Surfing Cacimbinha: The Complete Guide

Cacimbinha is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Tibau do Sul, RN, Brazil, offering both lefts and rights along South America's vast coastline. Cacimbinha is an uncrowded alternative to the busier Pipa beaches, offering quality peaks when N swells hit the coast. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is NE (45°), with workable conditions from N to E (0°–90°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Cacimbinha needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2m / 7ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the SSW (202°). The full offshore range spans SSE to WSW (157°–247°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Cacimbinha runs November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Season Notes: N swells December-March

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 27°C / 81°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is NAT, approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes by road.

Hazards & Tips

No major hazards are flagged for this spot, but standard ocean safety always applies.

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Cacimbinha? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Cacimbinha is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*